ferreting dogs

[Malt 379]

Could have killed my lurcher yesterday. Went charging in after a netted rabbit, pulled it off the fella who was untangling it, ripped his net and ran off into the field with the rabbit and chewed it to f**k.. Everything you don't want a ferreting dog to do. He's still a bit green on the ferreting, but much more of that & he'll be confined to lamping.

[Ideation 8,216]

A good ferreting dog is worth its weight in gold. Were we work without one there is not a lot of point in going out.

 

Anyhow - dogs develop their own style and then the young uns copy the older ones. I used to be of the opinion that i didnt like the dogs to grab the rabbits and hold them in the net. I used to think that they should be sitting up there watching out for the next one that i might miss when i was untangling the one thats just bolted.

 

However ferreting big sets strung along bankings and either side of fences with lots of fallen trees, cover ad stuff to get in the way. . . . . . we would have lost so many of the those that hit the nets if it wasnt for the dog doing some particularly impressive flying leaps to get to the rabbits. Best thing is they leave the ground before the rabbits out, following the vibrations. In effect it doesnt matter if the net purses well or the rabbit hits it properly, it aint going any where and you can stick another net on the hole without a worry as that rabbit is held. They can also fly into places you cant get to so quick, like under holly trees, between fallen logs or over fences and if your on your own this is a godsend!

 

Steadyness is the key!

[Malt 379]

I agree with that Jai. I always take my little JRT no matter what, but for the next few sessions I'll only be taking the lurcher when there are three of us and I can keep my attention on him. Hopefully I'll be able to teach him the name of the game like that, because if he carries on hard headedly like he is at the minute and going 'hunting deaf' all the time, I'm going to end up loosing patience with him, and that'll never be good for either of us..

 

No only that, but the terrier is starting to think he's on to something when he starts straying down the hedges hunting away of his own accord, and it distracts her. She pushed loads of rabbits out of cover yesterday, and he was miles down the hedge and missed them.

[Ideation 8,216]

I agree with that Jai. I always take my little JRT no matter what, but for the next few sessions I'll only be taking the lurcher when there are three of us and I can keep my attention on him. Hopefully I'll be able to teach him the name of the game like that, because if he carries on hard headedly like he is at the minute and going 'hunting deaf' all the time, I'm going to end up loosing patience with him, and that'll never be good for either of us..

 

No only that, but the terrier is starting to think he's on to something when he starts straying down the hedges hunting away of his own accord, and it distracts her. She pushed loads of rabbits out of cover yesterday, and he was miles down the hedge and missed them.

 

 

It IS hardwork sometimes getting it right, well at least getting all the 'right' bits to come together at the same time, lurcher, terrier, ferrets, people. A lot to be organized. I was tearing my hair out with my pup recently, he was shaping up to be nothing but hassle (pure whippet), he liked to wander off, pick up nets and make noise. He's now just started seeing REGULAR work, an hour or so most evenings out with the ferrets and a couple of full days a week and its finally clicked, although i must admit a lot of that is him now being worked a long side a much older dog who is steadyness personified. He just copies her and has learnt the value of waiting and watching. This dog was as hard headed as they come, only interested in one thing - HUNTING. By giving him a lot of work and an older role model out in the field he has settled right down, he will stay by me (albeit shaking like a leaf) until the rabbit hits the nets and then flies in at a command and holds them, he will mark, he will leave the nets and ferrets a lone and he wont f**k off if nothing much is hapenning . . . . . well most of the time! He has started to learn that when we stop and the ferrets are out that THIS is were the action is going to be and so THIS is where h should be. Like i said a huge amount of that is down to him now working a long side experianced dogs and copying them.

 

He's also a handy wee fecker as he can get into spots a terrier can but has the legs to run stuff down!

[stroller 341]

My little dog is a bit too keen at times making puts at rabbits sitting in the hole which can be annoying but she has also started pulling rabbits out of sets before they hit the nets which is a first for me. she generally tip toes about the big sets but i try to make her stand off the hole a bit to allow a bolt. she is still learning and i do sometimes lose my temper with her wandering to close to hole mouths but generally we are both forming a good partnership. the last twice out i have had her on the otherside of the hedge covering nets and i think she has got the idea ok.

 

but at 19 months old she has a long way to go before i woud say she is the finished product. a ferreting dog is nowt like a lamping dog they have way more stuff to learn